While the return of Mat Latos to Petco Park as a visiting pitcher has its delicious twists and turnarounds – several, in fact – there likely won’t be much warm-and fuzziness to the occasion Thursday night. Latos, a high-spirited, high-intensity and high-velocity hurler from the instant he arrived in San Diego as the Padres’ prized prospect in mid-2009, simply was not the type to engender deep affection among teammates in his two-and-a half seasons with the Padres.

Besides, Latos might not even recognize too many of the batters stepping up to the plate against him.

“Half the guys in here,” joked third baseman Chase Headley in the Padres clubhouse, “were traded for him.”

Well, three of them. Quite conceivably, too, all three will be in the Padres lineup when Latos starts for the Cincinnati Reds in their first game at Petco Park since the Dec. 17 trade. Above all, the way the rotations fell, Latos will be matched against Padres right-hander Edinson Volquez, the veteran who was brought over from Cincinnati to take Latos’ place on the San Diego staff.

“It’ll be fun, exciting,” said Volquez. “I was there for the last four years, so I know them, have a pretty good idea of what they’re looking for. And they’ll probably know what I want to do. Like I said, fun.”

The Padres’ regular first baseman all season has been rookie Yonder Alonso. As of last week, one of their catchers is rookie Yasmani Grandal, who’s had an immediate and powerful impact on the Padres’ offense.

“Everybody involved is doing well,” said manager Bud Black. “From a trade standpoint, both clubs got what they needed. We got some depth, a pitcher to replace Latos, a first baseman and a young catcher who’s growing and a potential relief pitcher (Triple-A right-hander Brad Boxberger). The Reds got what they wanted, a front-line starting pitcher with youth.

“But there shouldn’t be any secrets. We know what Mat does. On the other end, the Reds know Volquez. The Reds know Alonso. The Reds probably have seen enough of Grandal – even though it’s been a brief time in their organization – they probably feel they have a good solid book on him, too.”

The book on Latos, of course, says he has tremendous stuff. His first three starts post-Padres were rough, but he hasn’t lost a game since April 18, reeling off wins in his last seven decisions. Latos is coming off two straight complete games, including a 13-strikeout outing against Milwaukee, earning Player of the Week honors for the National League.

The book also will indicate that whether he’s pitching for or against you, Latos can be a real challenge. Tempestuous, especially on the mound, he’s often unable to hide it when upset with a strike zone or whatever else might annoy him.

Whether he’s pitching for or against you, Latos can be a real challenge.

“My guess is that he might temper that some,” said Black. “He shows his emotion, and I’m sure he’ll show it, but I’m sure he’ll also be on guard.”